Daily Republican., 1887-08-10
FOUR LITTLE CRICKETS.

child whose delicate appetite had 10 be
coaxed by something choice, and he
thought this pretty roll might tempt
even an invalid. While he was wait
| ing for his change little boy, 6 or z
years of age. poorly bat neatly dressed.
entered the shop.
Madame" lie said to the woman In
charge, mamma sent me for q loaf of |
bread"
The woman mounted some steps,
and drew from q shelf the most beauti- |
full four pound loaf that she could find,
and put it In the little boys arms.
My friend Jacques noticed the pale,
thoughtful face OF the child; it was in
great contrast to the big, round loaf,
(which seemed to be heavy burden
for him.
"Have you the money!" the woman
lasked him.
The eyes of the little boy grew sad.
"No, madame" he answered, press
ling the loaf of bread more closely
Iagainst his blouse, "but mamma said
THAT she would come to see you to-
morrow about it."
"Very we'll, said the good woman;
stake your loaf, my child"
"Thank you, madame" he answer
ed.
My friend Jacques had just received
his change.
He put his purchase into his pocket,
and wss about to 60 out OF the shop
Iwhen he saw, motionless behind him,
1.-The boy with the big loaf, who, he
Thought, had gone away.
"What are you doing there ~ asked
the woman, who had also thought the
boy on his way home "Are you not
satisfied with your loafp'
"Oh, yes, madame p he answered.
"Very well, then, 60 and carry 1t
Ito your mamma, my child. If you
Idelay, she will think you have been
playing on the way, and Will scoid
Iyou."
The child did not seem to hear.
Something attracted his attention else
. 'lwhere. The woman came to him, and
!, |,Igiving him friendly tip on the cheek,
Isaid:
"Of what are you thinking, instead
Iof hurrying home p
"Madame," said the little boy,
!, "what is 1t that is singing here?"
"There is nothing singing here"
"Oh, yes" said the little boy,
"don't you hear it-'Cinc, cine, cine,
cincT"
The woman and my friend Jacques
Il listened attentively but heard only the
chirp of some crickets, which are very
common visitors in houses where ther'
is bakery.
ais it i little bird ?" asked the boy
, "or only the bread singing as apple
I Ido?"
"No, no, little goose" said th'
- woman, ait is the chirp of the crick
cts. They are singing in the bakehous
. because the fire has just been lighted,
and the sight of the flames please
Them"
"Crickets p exclaimed the child
and his pale face became animated.
"Madame," he said blushlng at hi
Iown boldncss, II would be very mucl
v Obliged to you if you would give me
=, Icricket.
a. "a cricket!' said the woman, laugh
iel ling, "what would you do with 1t?
y: could give you all that are runnin
" about the house, l would gladly d
"A lso."
=. "Oh, madamel give me one, jul
lone, If you please" said the chilli
~ iclasping his thin hands over his LOT
ecu of bread. II have heard that crlcke
81, bring good luck to the houses in whic
adi = al they live. Perhaps, If we had one
. in.: lour house, mamma, who has so muc
on: trouble, would never cry any more.
rs. ss,: My friend Jacques looked at th
and woman. She was wiping her ey'
ella with the corner of her apron. 1t IN
IS sr friend Jacques had had an apron b
Ops would have done the same.
lies "Why does your mamma cry?" sa
az Imy friend Jacques, who could
Ian. longer refrain from mingling in Il
and conversation.
tend tend "On account of the bills. Papa
I ths dead and mamma works very hard i
deed, but we cannot pay all OF them
neG asi, MY friend jacques took the Chi
l,y o and the loaf of bread in his arms, al
ere: / think he kissed them both.
h"SI In the meantime the woman, w
,eSs seS did not dare touch the crickets herse
. had gone down in the bake hous
lShe asked her husband to catch sor
m Icrickets for her. He did so, and p
III four in box which had holes in t
lid. that they might have fresh air
breathe, then she gave the box
the little boy, who went away reJo
w. ling.
ie When he had gone, the woman a
.ue Imy friend Jacques shook hands wi
each other cordially, and said: ''Wl
dear little boy!"
The woman then took her accor
book, turned to the page where the
count of the little boys mamma W
and drew line across it from top
bottom, for the account was long, at
which she wrote at the botto
,o4 "Paid"
While she was doing this my frie
Jacques, in order not to lose any tin
had wrapped in paper all the NOR
- which he could find in his pocket
happily, there was good deal-a
begged the woman to send 1t at Of
kef, Ito the mamma of the little boy W
lET 1.-THE crickets, together with her
n no, Iceipted bill. and note saying that
- 5had child who would be some do
Igreat joy and consolation to her.
This was done, and the pack
AM was given to a tall bakers boy v
bad long legs, with the order to
very quickly. The child, with his
sHT loaf, his four crickets, and his 81
. little legs, could not 60 as fast as
bakers boy, so it happened tina. WI
the child reached home he found
AM mammals ewes raised from her VIC